Intl. J. Humanities (2013) Vol. 20 (1): (49-67 ) Reconsidering the Architecture of Shaikh Safi al-Din Ardabili's Shrine: New Findings in Archeological Excavations at Janat Sara Site 1 2 3 Hassan Yousefi , Mohammad Alizadeh Sola , Mahmoud Tavousi Received: 2011/6/13 Accepted: 2011/12/31 Abstract The Kh āneg āh or the Shrine of Shaikh Safi al-Din in Ardabil, north-west of Iran, listed as the world heritage site ( by UNESCO) back in 2011 under the identification no. 1450. This ensemble is located at 38° 14´52/5" northern latitude, 48° 17´27/5˝ longitude, and altitude of 1365 above sea level in the center of city of Ardabil. The ensemble of Shaikh Safi al-Din is a well-developed prototype constituting social, religious, charitable, cultural, and educational functions. With range of versatile spaces, it has met the physical and spiritual needs of residents and pilgrims as such; it includes places to meet needs in fields of education and training, livelihood and healthcare. Relying on the diagram of De Morgan, it seems there are more than 67 spaces and courtyards attached to the Kh āneg āh, all of which have had a significant role in the training and educational philosophy of Safavid tradition. After decade of Safavid, most part of this magnificent structure damaged. F. Sarre, a German researcher, conducted one of the earliest studies on the Downloaded from eijh.modares.ac.ir at 20:45 IRST on Friday October 8th 2021 architectural and archaeological history of Ardabil shrine in 1897. Some others such as Dibaj (1948), Ali Akbar Sar-faraz,(1974), Weaver (1974), Morton (1974) and Seyyed Mahmoud Mousawi (1995-6) have also carried out researches on this subject in recent decades. Archaeological works of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Islamic Republic also conducted a study under the leadership of Hassan Yousefi in 2007. These studies cleared so many unsolved historical questions about the general plan of the holy shrine. Keywords: Ardabil; Shaikh Safi al-Din Shrine; Archaeological Excavations; Findings. 1. Director, the Archaeological Excavation of Shaikh Safi al-Din Ardabili's Shrine, [email protected] 2. Member of the Archaeological Excavation Team of Shaikh Safi al-Din Ardabili's Shrine. 3. Professor, Faculty of Arts, Tarbiat Modares University 49 Reconsidering the Architecture of … Intl. J. Humanities (2013) Vol. 20(1) Introduction Sarfaraz works. This lasted for five research Ali Akbar Sar-afraz performed the first seasons with studies performed on the archeological study of shrine on the eastern western side of the shrine. side of Chini Kh āna and new Chilla Kh āna. Some old walls from different historical The excellent evidences were obtained from periods appeared with the destruction of the those researches. These studies result in southwestern part of the big yard of Shaikh recognition of cemetery named Shahidgah Safi al-Din shrine complex. This and architecture of Sadr al-Din Musa's destruction was for dampness reduction, Chilla Kh āna. He made a trench on the reconstruction and repair of the shrine. eastern part of Chini Kh āna that resulted in More studies revealed that the northern wall discovery of Ch āldiran martyr's graves and of new Chilla Kh āna consists of four some items including saddles and bridles of periods. New Chilla Kh āna splits older horses, thrusting and cutting weapons inside Chilla Kh āna from big yard. The oldest the graves. Martyrs corps was wrapped in a period of this wall is same as New Chilla layer of cattle or camel furred skin. He Kh āna and more probably is one of the could not find any architectural or oldest architectural elements of this settlement elements in lower levels of the ensemble. excavation. He chronology of these graves Another wall was made over the old one and ceramic pieces was estimated to 8th to that contains turquoise and lapis lazuli tiles. 7th AH centuries (Morton, 1975: 44). Its curved shape represents that it has been Downloaded from eijh.modares.ac.ir at 20:45 IRST on Friday October 8th 2021 Sar-afraz discovered traces of several part of an arcade. "It could be concluded the graves on the western and southern sides of main entrance or portal to the complex. internal space of new Chilla Kh āna. The Shah Abbas II made a portal way from building was constructed during Shaikh north by Āli Q āpu portal. The new Sadr al-Din. discovered portal was likely made before The oldest ceramic pieces obtained from the two other ways. The main portal of this part belong 8th and 9th AH / 15 th and Shaikh Safi al-Din’s shrine was gained this 14 th Centuries AD. Seyyed Mahmoud arcade. Mousawi performed the second season of Later studies indicate that this wall had studies and researches, two decades after been extended to the western side. Some 50 Yousefi H. and others Intl. J. Humanities (2013) Vol. 20(1) elements of this wall were cut and destroyed for reshaping it later Qajar era. Excavations of western side of destroyed wall revealed that Sheikh Safi al-Din’s complex was bigger and wider than what today look like. Some of the lands were taken over by people around the complex for making houses and shops during later Qajar period. A study in 1374/1995 on the western side of complex proved these Fig 1 Key Plan of Parts of the Remains of western changes (Fig. 1). Side of Ensemble Many of glazed and simple ceramic th th pieces of 10 -13 centuries AH could be Report on Excavation at West and North found on the surface soil and floor. Most of of Jannat Sara these pieces were made in Safavid period. The plan of first season of research at the Some tallow–burners were found during Ardabil shrine started from April 2006 excavation that likely for lighting inside the following the finding of structural remains building. Some pieces of white–bluish of 8th -11 th A.H. These were golden periods porcelain of Safavid period including big for the shrine. These remains were bowls and dishes were also found there. discovered during the renovation of the Downloaded from eijh.modares.ac.ir at 20:45 IRST on Friday October 8th 2021 Many items and glass pieces collected were right wall of the complex. This wall extends belonged to small and big bowls and to the main gate and the study was focused pitchers. A big broken ceramic for storage on the main parts of plan and architecture in was discovered inside in the trench (Locus north and west of Jannat Sara. This 215) placed in central space of vestibule" summary report and works could be a new (Mousawi, 1380: 47-48). opening to introduce one of the oldest buildings of the shrine and its extension. Some of shrine buildings, anyway, were destroyed or disappeared. Archaeological 51 Yousefi H. and others Intl. J. Humanities (2013) Vol. 20(1) researches however can help draw the The main researched area consists of 10m complete plan of the complex and its square trenches each of them is 10×10m extension in past years. and this area is located at a big place of the Since the relation between north and shrine but the most important architectural west of Jannat sara mosque is significant elements of this search season are specific and it contains a major part of the shrine, it for B7, B8, C5, C6, C8, C7 trenches. may play significant role in making a 37 structures were identified in B 8 definite chronicle and the archaeology of workshop. On the basis of historical the Ardabil shrine (Fig. 2). documents, these structures were eliminated from main body of the shrine after the fall Architectural Remains Unearthed during of Safavid. The shrine was limited to a 2007 Excavation small area during Pahlavi and was made The most significant architectural and several quarters and school over these ruins. cultural elements were discovered on the right hand side of the yard during the first excavation season in 2007 or places in west and north of the biggest and tallest building of complex named Jannat-Sara. This part originally is a wide area where Pooran- dokht School was constructed. Downloaded from eijh.modares.ac.ir at 20:45 IRST on Friday October 8th 2021 52 Yousefi H. and others Intl. J. Humanities (2013) Vol. 20(1) Downloaded from eijh.modares.ac.ir at 20:45 IRST on Friday October 8th 2021 criminal law from this point of view. The discovered structures in B8 trench contain two piers, wall, macadamized floor, remains of two ovens, wells and sewage, clay water canals, Fig 2 The Key Plan of SKSEA 53 Yousefi H. and others Intl. J. Humanities (2013) Vol. 20(1) pool, bench, a wall decorated with tiles and brick-made floor. We can say that structures of B8 trench are parts of a significant building complex but its excavation could not be completed due to limitations in progression or trench. Foundation of these structures is made of cut stones. Walls are made of bricks and lime mortar. Internal surfaces were covered by lime decorated with tiles. Cultural remains found in B8 trench include ceramics, tiles and coins Figs 3-4. Remains of Historical Āsh Kh ānā (Figs. 3-4). (Kitchen) Structure. 70% of found ceramic pieces are glazed and rests of them are simple items. The glazed ceramics consist of multicolored surface paintings, mono colored or white- blue. The tiles include seven-colored, reticulated and comfits. Most of these tiles are hexagonal and golden, bluish, black, green and multicolored with trefoil palmate figures.